Sphincter assist mechanism

ABSTRACT

A simple device to allow the exertion of an upward pulling force by the user when seated on a toilet for completion of a bowel movement. The exertion of an upward force on a stationary object allows the engagement of other muscles in the upper body to compress body internals in assistance of the work to be done by the sphincter muscle in the expulsion of the bowel movement. The disclosed sphincter assistance pulling device provides the user with a means to exert the desired upward pulling forces using their arms, while holding the device firmly on the ground with their feet. In this way, the sphincter assistance pulling device facilitates and easier and faster expulsion of the desired bowel movement.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to the facilitation of bowel movements via mechanical means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Persons suffering from constipation or finding it more difficult than desired to complete a bowel movement have only limited options for assistance. The primary means for assistance in making successful bowel movements can be grouped into the following areas: changes in diet, medications to be ingested, solutions to be injected, and mechanical devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application provides a new mechanism for assistance with the completion of a successful bowel movement: a pulling device to enable the engagement of other muscles in the body to assist the work to be done by the sphincter muscle. The design disclosed herein provides the ability for the user to exert an upwards force on a stationary object such that key muscles in the body are contracted, exerting a downward pressure inside the body, and thereby enabling the sphincter muscle to work more effectively in expelling the bowel movement from the body.

The features and advantages of the sphincter assistance pulling device will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the description of the embodiments that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the disclosure and should not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, size, or applicability of the disclosure. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a cross-sectional front view of a sphincter assistance pulling device;

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a cross-sectional front view of a sphincter assistance pulling device;

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a cross-sectional side view of a sphincter assistance pulling device;

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a cross-sectional front view of a sphincter assistance pulling device;

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a cross-sectional front view of a sphincter assistance pulling device;

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a cross-sectional side view of a sphincter assistance pulling device;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following description is presented to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use embodiments described herein. Descriptions of specific devices, techniques, and applications are provided only as examples. Various modifications to the examples described herein will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other examples and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example illustration.” Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. The embodiments shown are for illustrative purposes only; other implementations are envisioned and within the scope of this disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples described herein and shown but is to be accorded the scope consistent with the claims.

As presented in the disclosed figures, the sphincter assistance pulling device includes a base and a pulling mechanism that are held together at a fixed point. The pulling mechanism can be held in position on the base, or attached to a post fastened to the base, as desired to achieve desired design, performance or other characteristics.

In some embodiments, the post will include an attachment point at the top of the post to allow the connection of a pulling mechanism on which the user can exert an upward force. The pulling mechanism can be a rope or similar flexible object of sufficient strength, or it can be a rigid object of any suitable material such as plastic, wood, metal or other to allow upward pulling by the user.

In embodiments using a flexible pulling mechanism, the attachment point at the top of the post may consist of a ring or similar point to which the pulling mechanism may be fastened, either by tying the pulling mechanism to the ring or by fastening the pulling mechanism by use of a separate attachment mechanism such as a clamp, bolt and nut arrangement, flexible cable tie, wire, string, rope or other suitable means to the top of the post or elsewhere along the post.

In embodiments using a rigid pulling mechanism, the attachment point at the top of the post may consist of a hinge or similar to allow a movable connection of the pulling mechanism to the top of the post.

In other embodiments, the pulling mechanism can be a rope or similar flexible object of sufficient strength inserted into the post and fastened internally or externally to the base to prevent upwards removal.

In yet other embodiments, the pulling mechanism may be attached directly to a base to allow the user to exert an upwards pulling force on the pulling mechanism, and in so doing avoid the use of a post.

In all embodiments, the post or pulling mechanism are securely attached to a base, designed so that the user can place his or her feet on the base to counteract the upward force exerted on the pulling mechanism.

Accordingly, FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a cross-sectional front view of a sphincter assistance pulling device 100. Pulling mechanism 101 is connected to ring 103 at the top of post 104. Pulling mechanism 101 may be a rope or similar flexible material allowing the user to comfortably exert an upwards force on handhold 102, which may consist of a knot, cross bar, or other means to provide the user with a suitable grip for the application of an upward pulling force. Post 104 is attached to platform 105 by permanent weld or other fastening arrangement. Post 104 is then inserted into hole 106 in the bottom of base 107 so that platform 105 and post 104 are prevented from further upward movement when an upward force is exerted on pulling mechanism 101. Base 107 is constructed of a rigid material, such as wood, metal, plastic or other material, and is sufficiently large to allow placement of all or a portion of the user's feet on either side of post 104 to keep the sphincter assistance pulling device 100 on the ground during the application of the upward pulling force by the user.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a cross-sectional front view of a sphincter assistance pulling device 100 in which platform 105 is held in place on the top of base 107 by the use of one or more bolts 111, penetrating base 107 and attached to platform 105 with nuts 112 so that post 104 is held firmly in position relative to base 107.

In other embodiments, post 104 or platform 105 may be attached to base 107 by screws, bolts, clamps or other fasteners penetrating or otherwise connected to base 107.

In other embodiments, base 107 may also incorporate a raised platform, such as a step stool or similar, to facilitate a higher positioning of the user's feet.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a cross-sectional side view of a sphincter assistance pulling device 100 in which pulling mechanism 101 is a rigid component attached to post 104 by means of hinge 108. In this case, pulling mechanism 101 is shown as a rigid component, where the user would exert an upward pulling force by gripping the handhold 102, attached to pulling mechanism 101. Hinge 108 is any type of hinge mechanism allowing the user to exert an upwards force at angle 109, where angle 109 typically varies from 0 to 45 degrees.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a cross-sectional front view of a sphincter assistance pulling device 100 in which pulling mechanism 101 is a rigid component attached to post 104 by means of hinge 108. The user applies an upward pulling force by gripping the handhold 102, attached to pulling mechanism 101. Handhold 102 can be fabricated as an integral part of pulling mechanism 101 or an external rod, bar or other graspable component attached to pulling mechanism 101.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a cross-sectional front view of a sphincter assistance pulling device 100 in which pulling mechanism 101 is a rope or similar flexible material fed through the inside of post 104 and center of platform 105 through hole 106 in base 107, with stopper knot 110 preventing further upward movement of pulling mechanism 101 through hole 106 in base 107.

In other embodiments, stopper knot 110 may be replaced by a clamp, washer, nut, or other mechanical fixture of sufficient size attached to pulling mechanism 101 so as not to allow upward movement of pulling mechanism 101 into post 104. Alternatively, pulling mechanism 101 itself may be fastened to base 107 by use of screws, clamps, staples, or other suitable mechanism.

In other embodiments, a measuring device such as a spring-tension weight gage may be used to connect pulling mechanism 101 to post 104, platform 105 or base 107 so that a measure of upward force applied may be shown to the user, via unit-less indicator, analog gage or digital reading indicating upward force applied.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a cross-sectional side view of a sphincter assistance pulling device 100 in which pulling mechanism 101 is a rigid component directly attached to base 107 by means of hinge 108. Handhold 102 is securely attached to pulling mechanism 101. Hinge 108 is any type of hinge mechanism allowing the user to exert an upwards force at angle 109, where angle 109 typically varies from 0 to 45 degrees.

In other embodiments where pulling mechanism 101 is a rope or similar flexible material, pulling mechanism 101 itself may be fastened to base 107 by use of screws, clamps, staples, or other suitable mechanism without the use of hinge 108 or post 104.

While the inventive features have been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those in the art that the foregoing and other changes may be made therein without departing from the sprit and the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or other configuration for the disclosure, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the disclosure. The disclosure is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additionally, although the disclosure is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment with which they are described. They instead can be applied alone or in some combination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the disclosure, whether or not such embodiments are described, and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sphincter assistance pulling device, comprising: a base on which the user can place his or her feet, a post fastened to the base in a substantially upright position, a pulling mechanism attached to the post on which the user can exert an upward pulling force while seated on a toilet, to assist with the completion of a bowel movement.
 2. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 1, wherein the pulling mechanism consists of flexible material such as a rope.
 3. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 2, with a knot at or near the end of the flexible material to facilitate the user grip for application of an upward pulling force.
 4. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 2, wherein a bar or handle is attached at or near the end of the flexible material to facilitate the user grip for application of an upward pulling force.
 5. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 1, wherein a ring is firmly affixed to the top of the post for attachment of the pulling mechanism.
 6. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 2, wherein the pulling mechanism is threaded through the inside of the post and prevented from being pulled back up by means of a stopper knot or the attachment of other sufficiently large object to prevent upwards movement into the post.
 7. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 2, wherein the pulling mechanism is threaded through the inside of the post and fastened to the base directly or indirectly by means of a clamp, clip or similar.
 8. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 1, wherein the pulling mechanism is a rigid or substantially rigid component.
 9. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 8, wherein the pulling mechanism is attached to the post by means of a hinge or similar connection to allow application of the upward pulling force at various angles.
 10. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 8, wherein a bar or handle is attached at or near the end of the pulling mechanism.
 11. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 1, wherein the base is a raised platform such as a step stool.
 12. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 1, wherein the pulling device is attached to the base by means of a weight gage to allow measurement of the force applied.
 13. A sphincter assistance pulling device, comprising: a base on which the user can place his or her feet, a pulling mechanism attached to the base on which the user can exert an upward pulling force while seated on a toilet, to assist with the completion of a bowel movement.
 14. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 13, wherein the pulling mechanism consists of flexible material such as a rope.
 15. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 14, wherein a bar or handle is attached at or near the end of the flexible material to facilitate the user grip for application of an upward pulling force.
 16. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 13, wherein the pulling mechanism is a rigid or substantially rigid component.
 17. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 16, wherein the pulling mechanism is attached to the base by means of a hinge or similar connection to allow application of the upward pulling force at various angles.
 18. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 16, wherein a bar or handle is attached at or near the end of the pulling mechanism.
 19. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 13, wherein the base is a raised platform such as a step stool.
 20. The sphincter assistance pulling device of claim 13, wherein the pulling device is attached to the base by means of a weight gage to allow measurement of the force applied. 